Reviews of Batman: Arkham Asylum - Xbox 360

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Video games haven't been too kind to Batman. Often times when we think of a Batman game, the first thing that comes to mind is that the game just isn't going to be all that spectacular. What is it about the Batman that hasn't always worked in the past? It's hard to point out. What we can point out, however, is that Batman Arkham Asylum doesn't fall into that category. In fact, it is easily one of the best Batman games to be released. From its humble beginnings, the game is fine tuned video game that does most of what it does incredibly well.

Let's begin with the production values. This is by far one of Arkham Asylum's strong points. The game begins with the Joker being caught and taken to Arkham Asylum, but he seems to be pretty non-chalant about it, and Batman doesn't like that one bit. And it turns out he was right to be suspicious. The Joker springs a trap and Batman is caught in the middle. Now he's trapped inside the Asylum with the Joker controlling things, as well as several other adversaries.

One of the nice things about Arkham Asylum is that it presents its story very well. The art style feels comic book like, but it doesn't skimp on the overall visual presentation either. There's a lot of artistic flair and technical goodness to behold with the graphics. Most of the environments look fascinating and will really draw you into the game. The tone is perfect. The other good aspect is the voice acting. If you remember that Batman: The Animated Television series you'll be surprised to see its the same voices. Kevin Conroy is Batman and Mark Hamill is the Joker. And the voices are done very well. The production values of the game are absolutely stellar.

Of course, a game just isn't much if it only goes off of visual flair alone. In the past gameplay seems to be one of the areas in which Batman games often stumble. In the past the games have had a hard time crafting together good gameplay elements or sometimes being unreasonably clunky. This is mostly Batman's past. The games sometimes felt rushed. This isn't the case with Arkham. In fact, the game mostly keeps things pretty simple. The combat is really easy to pick up on, having you string together simple combos. But the game hardly devolves into button mashing. This is because your enemies will take advantage of the situation, and the game makes sure you can't rush head on into things. First and foremost, most of your foes are willing to take advantage of their surroundings. Second, you can't go head to head with several enemies all toting guns at once. This is definitely not a beat 'em up kind of game. In fact, in some areas, caution and stealth are required.

There has rarely been a Batman game where you actually feel like Batman. In some places you'll be able to swoop down and leave your enemies hanging from gargoyles... or perform a glide kick or use some of Batman's gadgets to get the job done. For such simple gameplay concepts, there are actually quite a few ways to implement them into the game. The game also lets you upgrade and improve on your techniques as you progress. So there actually happens to be quite a bit of variety.

At the same time, though, the game is accessible to just about everyone. You can also enter what's called "Detective Mode" if you so choose. Within this mode, Batman can see certain things he otherwise couldn't. You can tell where your enemies are easier and find some hidden goodies. You'll no doubt be playing a large portion of the game in this mode, but it's very worth it to do so. Choosing not to means missing out on some of Arkham Asylum's secrets, and there are a lot of secrets. The most prominent of which is that you can find riddles scattered all over that will unlock lots of different things for you to do. You'll also be able to unlock small character bios and audio samples about certain characters. These are other things that really make the game come alive in its own way. And in the midst of all this, the game doesn't appear too challenging or intimidating.

That's not to say you won't be challenged. You will. Particularly when you reach something new. It's nice to know, however, that the game isn't overly difficult. It's just to say that when trumping through it at least doesn't feel easy. When helping you get acquainted to things, Arkham Asylum is pretty easy going. But once the game takes away the training wheels you may find yourself hitting a few snags every now and then.

The visual look of the game isn't all that adds to the game's atmosphere. So does the music and so do some of the animations when you're fighting. Sometimes it's fun to battle just to look at some of the animations as they take place. Other times exploring can be absorbing because the music really knows how to set the tone. Arkham Asylum has a lot of strength, but the game seems well aware of just what those strengths are.

There's really not much that keeps Arkham Asylum down. In many ways it's exciting to play a Batman game that's good. After getting several Batman games that felt like a throwaway of the license, Batman Arkham Asylum feels like a breath of fresh air. Most of its gameplay conventions have been done before, but it's mostly how the game mixes them together that works well, and the absorbing atmosphere it emits in the process. Batman fans might find themselves pleased by this one. It's a simple game to play, but there is definitely a lot in it that could keep you busy for some time, and a lot to explore. It's great to see a Batman game come to fruition, and to do it so smoothly.

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I was skeptical about Batman. I've never been the hugest fan of Batman, but have seen all the movies, and played most of his games. The games have always been mediocre at best, so one could imagine why I would be skeptical to dish out $60 for what has always been a mediocre gaming franchise.

Boy, was I wrong. I kept hearing how good the game was, that it was Game of the year potential. I didn't believe it. I waited for more trailers. Loved what I saw, decided to get it the day it came out. I fell in love with the game, not even 10 minutes in.

There's almost nothing negative I can say about this game. The only thing that I wish it would have, is some type of multiplayer but due to the way the game is, it's understandable why they decided to not include multiplayer. The story is amazing, and even if you're not a Batman fan, this is still a must-play game.

Owning more than 85 Xbox360 games, one thing I hate is collectables. Batman has 240 collectables known as "riddles". As much as I hate them, I've gotten all 240 and they were the most fun I had getting collectables. Then there's challenges, and you can literally spend hours here, trying to master combos, counters, and earning your medals.

As I said, the only negative is this game is the lack of multiplayer. This game was a blast both times I ran thru it. The story is amazing, the achievements are not easy, yet not too hard, and you can easily spend all day playing this game without getting bored. Batman:AA is near perfection and was a great way to open the gaming season this year.

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I cannot begin to express how wonderful this game is! I've purchased several comic games in the past (all of which have ended up on ebay) hoping that one might capture the magic of how it would feel to websling or fly or shred an enemy to bits with Wolverine's claws. But game after game, I have always come away thoroughly disappointed. I mean, is it really so hard to approach a comic game with the same level of production as Gears of War or Fallout 3 or Mass Effect? I suppose many publishers just assume a comic game will sell no matter what the product value, and therefore they rush it to store shelves.

But Arkham Asylum is different, and is everything I have ever wanted in a Batman video game.

First off, you actually feel like Batman. By the end of the game, you have all his gadgets and all of them are actually useful. I found the detective vision, the grappling hook, and the exploding jelly (great for setting traps) to be the best, but the others are almost equally great.

If you've seen the in-game pictures then you know what to expect from the graphics. Arkham Asylum is an extremely gritty place that is displayed in surprising detail. There were several pictures I saw before the game's release that I swore were cut-scenes (the one where Batman is standing on a cliff ledge overlooking Arkham Island comes to mind). But, quite surprisingly, nearly all of them were still-frames of actual in-game footage (the cliff ledge included). Even in the beginning when you first deliver the Joker to the island, you are in full control of Batman.

Other reviews I've seen on Amazon have explained the storyline, so I won't delve into detail. By now, you probably know the premise. Just know the story is intriguing and well thought out.

Another aspect of the game that surprised me was the Joker. The voice acting by Mark Hamill was superb, which is expected, but he is actually funny. Sometimes in the Animated Series I found the Joker to be a little too campy, but they've certainly given him more of an edge in the game and have allowed him to be more risqué. Every time I sit down to play, he blurts out something over the loud speaker that makes me laugh out loud. The Riddler's audio recordings are also pretty funny, with a punch-line at the end of each of them. Great stuff!

Also, every scene involving the Scarecrow is worth the price of admission alone. Many of them are the spookiest things I've seen in a video game in quite some time! Don't worry, I won't ruin it. Just make sure when you hear Dr. Crane's name mentioned or you see gas fumes hanging in the air you have the lights out and the sound way up. Chills!

The only gripe I have is that the faces and mouths are stiffer than they should be, not quite matching the vocal inflection. However, the outstanding voice acting and wonderful look/feel of the rest of the game makes this quibble seem tiny and forgivable.

I really could go on and on about how cool it is to sneak around in the shadows, striking fear in your enemies, or how great the combat feels -all the moves are tight and powerful, just like in Chris Nolan's movies. Please, do yourself a favor and pick this game up. If you're even mildly interested in Batman you'll LOVE it. I for one can't wait for the sequel! A+

Honest reviews on Batman: Arkham Asylum - Xbox 360

After countless unremarkable or even terrible Batman games, few had hope that the venerable character would ever become anything more than a blemish in video game history. But, with Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady, an up and coming developer that has only put out one other title, might have single handedly reversed that perception.

From the beginning, there is no doubt that this is a game which has been given the utmost thought and polish. Much like Half-Life games or Bioshock, there aren't lengthy cutscenes that may make you want to skip over vital information. After a brief clip of Batman transporting the Joker to the Asylum, the introduction becomes interactive. Throughout the game too, the story is mostly told through audio logs and in-game communication between Batman and the Joker, various guards, or Oracle, Batman's sidekick who provides him with useful intelligence. The story is a basic plot about a science experiment that goes wrong, but the in-game method of storytelling has moments of brilliance, using some interesting plot devices to keep things exciting. Voice acting is on the money, with a few voice actors from the Batman: The Animated Series reprising their classic roles. The Joker is definitely in his element, often referring to his diabolical plan as a "party" and making gags seem like life or death situations.

The music isn't overbearing, but it is appropriate and memorable when it is there. Several major Batman villains make appearances, and plenty of those that don't are given awesome allusions, often involving puzzles planted by the Riddler.

Technically, the game is quite impressive as well, with detailed character models and environments. Batman's cape flaps as he runs through Arkham Island, and his costume even accumulates tears and rips that remain as you progress further in the game. Notably, there is very little loading in the game, and when there is, it is cleverly masked as in the Metroid Prime games.

Where Arkham Asylum really shines though, is in its gameplay. This isn't only a stealth game, an action game, or an adventure game. It's all three genres fused into something even greater than the sum of its parts. As you stalk enemies and whittle them down, they'll grow increasingly terrified and eventually, they'll jump at any noise they hear. The Joker seems to find just as much pleasure in trying to kill Batman as he does in frightening and denigrating his own crew, as you'll notice that he mocks them rather frequently.

Also, taking these enemies down is just as much fun as watching them squirm in fear. There's a variety of ways you can knock out your enemies, and in keeping with Batman tradition, like the rest of the game, these methods will never kill, but only temporarily incapacitate. Among the best is the inverted takedown, which lets you hang a thug upside down from a gargoyle. After, you could wait for more thugs to come underneath the gargoyle, and cut the victim down with a batarang, knocking out even more henchmen. These moments are priceless, and evoke a feeling that this is the quintessential Batman game.

When you aren't skulking around oblivious enemies, you'll be using gadgets to explore the massive island. Like in any Metroid game, some areas can only be accessed with an upgraded arsenal. Otherwise, you can search for Riddle Trophies, Riddle Challenges, destroy chattering Joker Teeth, or try to find Spirit of Arkham entries. Regardless of what you're doing though, you're likely to find the overall experience seamless and very addictive. The campaign can likely be finished in around 10 hours or so, but it is so entertaining while it lasts, that it's still worth the price.

One of the few minor issues I have with the game is that it has a severely impaired saving system. Rather than simply allowing players to save whenever they want, the game will only save automatically each time you enter or exit any area. Consequentially, if you unwittingly turn off the console power while the game saves, your save file will be corrupted. Also, without custom saves, you can't replay your favorite sections of the game whenever you want, which is unfortunat for a game with such entertaining sequences.

I have found that the aforementioned saving problem, and the "boss fights" are really the only snags in this excellent game. The encounters with humongous Titan-fueled enemies, especially the very last battle, really doesn't seem to fit the gameplay at all. I found them more frustrating than amusing. Yet, the rest of the game is so ahead of most others that it doesn't bother me much. I don't care much for the bonus challenge stages, but they are there too for added replay value, in case you found the main campaign too short.

Overall, this is a game that can't be missed. It is one of the enthralling video games you can play, with enough mind blowing moments and engaging gameplay to even surpass games like Bioshock.

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First things first, forget the demo. It's bad and doesn't even come close to conveying the feel of this game, in-fact it's misleading. Do not even play it if you haven't already. Just buy this game, it deserves a spot in your collection, trust me.

This game is dark and gritty, similar to BioShock, a tone which is set at the beginning of the game. A cutscene shows Batman en route to deliver the Joker back to the Asylum. Upon arrival, the cutscene ends and you control a perturbed Batman as he simply walks alongside the Joker, who is strapped into an upright gurney and towed into the depths of Arkham by the asylum's guards. This walking alongside him is probably a good five minutes, all the while the Joker heckles you and the guards. Finally, the Joker manages to break free just before he's put into lockdown and gets away, sealing Batman inside--his elaborate plan just beginning to unfold. Arkham Asylum, with loose papers, broken wheelchairs, and dead bodies throughout every corridor, exudes a similar feeling to that of Rapture of BioShock; this place is scary, it's a mental institution that houses the most dangerous people in the world, and they run amuck while the craziest of them controls everything.

The voice acting is perhaps the best I've heard in a videogame; Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) is hauntingly brilliant as this incarnation of the Joker, equally as good or better than his animated series protrayal, while Kevin Conroy and Arleen Sorkin continue to be THE voices of Batman and Harley Quinn, respectively. It's more than notable that even the voice acting of the guards is spot-on and you may hear familiar voices if you've played Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic or seen Ratatouille.

The story so far (i'm only 3-4 hours in) is surprisingly pretty unpredictable and could easily be translated into of one the better Batman graphic novels. I refuse to spoil any plot points, as you should enjoy them for yourself but I will say the boss fights are cool, particularly the run-ins with Scarecrow. Note that if you are Batman fan, as in one who reads the comic books, there will be a lot here for you. Interview tapes, as they're called, are recordings of therapy sessions with a doctor of the asylum and an inmate. From what I can tell, it appears that each of the famous super-criminals (joker, harley, killer croc, etc.) all have 5 interview tapes each strewn about the several buildings that make up Arkham Asylum. This brings me to the Riddler challenges, which sometimes include the finding of and collecting interview tapes. These challenges are a more fun re-imagining of the challenges you'll find in games like the Spiderman series, Prototype, Infamous, etc. There are 240 of them, and although some are just the flinging of your batarangs at wind-up chattering teeth, which can occasionally be found lying on the floor, or finding hidden trophies, some are riddles, which are rewarding for you yourself when you manage to solve them, but also, like all of Riddler's challenges, award valuable experience.

Finally, this game has the best combat system I've ever played in a video game. I've enjoyed all types, but at this point button-mashing combat systems have become so very trite to me. At first glance, Arkham Asylum's combat system might sound like it's a button-masher, as X button is attack, Y is counter, B is stun, and A is used to flip over enemies, while other moves include the simultaneous pressing of X and B, A and X, or RT and Y. However, in truth, the combat has so much more depth. Rocksteady has dubbed the system FreeFlow; your goal is to attack a group of enemies, sometimes as many as a dozen at once, using one continuous and fluid combo of punches and kicks and flips all the while dodging and countering the thugs' persistent attempts at hitting you, often with pipes or knives or stun batons. Every move has to be calculated quickly and on the fly, but with the occasional slow-motion hit to help you keep your bearings. This can be quite a challenge, but it's so much fun. I can burn away hours easily just fighting in challenge mode, another mode of gameplay apart from story mode. During story mode these large run-ins are not rare per-se but they aren't frequent either. The other combat mechanic involves hiding above the rafters and one-by-one incapacitating an oft-large number of gun-toting foes. Swinging from the rafters and using detective vision, which allows you to see enemies through walls and other obstructions, as well as detect heart rates and therefore deduce emotional response, and watching chaos ensue as everyone runs around, shooting at random things, close to tears, REALLY makes you feel like Batman. Doing this well, which entails being quick and silent, is so much fun.

I have but two qualms about the entire game: the fact that it's too tempting to just leave detective vision on all the time, which is akin to reading a beautifully colored comic book in black and white, and the fact that enemies apparently do not have peripheral vision.

All in all, this game is as close to perfect as games get, with extraordinary attention to detail and brilliant and fun gameplay, and is a must own for everyone over the age of 13.

P.S. I've never written a review before, for anything. so any tips or criticisms are welcome